Locking device for containers.



A. A. O. BENDIG.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2.1915.

Patented May 2, 1916.

W/TNES8E8: Z W m a ALFRED ADOLF OTTO BENDIG, OF ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS.

Specification of-Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed June 2, 1915. Serial No. 31,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED AooLF OTTO lil-ZNIHG, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Roxbury, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massalocking devices for containers and particu-- larly to that type of containers adapted to be carried in the pocket and in which the locking means are invisible.

One object is to provide a case or container, for various small articles and materials, that cannot be opened except by certain definite manipulations, thereby safeguarding the goods from the uninitiated.

Another object is to provide a safe receptacle productive of pleasure and entertainment, in the manner of a puzzle, to those unaware of its peculiar features.

These objects are attained by the novel constriwtion and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the acc0m panying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a receptacle made in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a shown in a closed position. bottom plan view of the same, showing the first movement in unlocking. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the second opening stage. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of parts in the final or open condition. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6-,is,-an end view of the container. Fig. 7-is a'bottom plan view of the lock releasing lever, and, Fig. 8 is a plan viewotthe lid, the release lever being removed.

The container consists of a body or base 10, having a cavity 11 l'or holding the goods, such as snuff, cigarettes. matches or other small articles of personal nature. From the otherwise level top 12, at one end rises a narrow wedge shaped standard 13, the purpose of which will be later described. At the other end of the body is a screw, rivet or pin 14, acting as a pivot upon which the cover 15 and release lever 16 may be turned, as shown in Fig. -l'. The pin 14 passes through an opening 17 in the cover 15. the opening leading to another opening 18 of larger diameter, adapted to receive the locking sphere or ball 19 when the parts are in as shown in Fig. 5; when held in a reversed position, as in Fig. '2, the ball drops by gravity into the cavity 20, formed in the inner side of the release lever 16 adjacent and opening into the pivot opening 21.- The upper side of the cover 15 is recessed at 22 to receive the release lever 16, the jointed edges 23 and 24 respectively of the lever and cover being accurately fitted, and in such manner that when the parts are in normal position the lever is held from rising by reason of the undercut edge '23. The end of the cover opposite the pivot is recessed, as at 25, to receive the wedge shaped standard 13, Which tends to hold the cover in contact With the surface 12 and prevents it from turning on the pivot.

lVhen it is desired to open the container, which as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 6, is preferably in the form of an elongated rectangle. of substantially rectangular cross section. the receptacle is reversed, that is, held with the cover down; the ball 19 then passes into the recess 20 of the lever 16, which is then turned on the pivot 14, thereby preventing the ball from reentering the opening 18 in the cover 15; the cover 15 can now be drawn back, the pin 14: passing into the opening 18 and the recess 25 removed from the standard 13 so that it may be turned on the pivot to either side (see Fig. 4) thereby permitting access to the cavity 11 and its contents.

\Vhen the parts are restored to their normal position, the cover cannot be moved while the receptacle is held right side up,

normal position, the receptacle is the ball 19 and standard 13 positively preventing movement; the release leverv 16 may be turned on the pivot 14 at anytime but no result is obtained toward unlocking the receptacle unless its position be reversed before turning, as the ball becomes locked in the opening 18 by turning the lever when the receptacle is held upright.

Having thus described my invention and explained its purpose, construction and use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A receptacle having a recessed body, a slotted cover engaged therewith, said cover having an enlarged opening extending from the slot therein, a dove-tailed element formed with said body entering into a corresponding recess in said cover, a release lever combined with said cover, said lever with said cover when said lever is turned being laterally operable and containing a laterally to said cover.

cavity normally in alinement with the men- Signed at Roxbury in the county of tioned opening, a ivot pin passing through Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts this 5 said body, slot 0 the cover and thg lever, twenty-third day of April A. D. 1915.

4 and a lockin element normally con ned in v said cover adjacent to said pivot pin, said AMRED ADOLF 0H0 BEMHG' lock element being received in the lever Witnesses:

cavity when the receptacle is reversed, BERNARD P. HOFFMANN, 10 moved by it and held out of engagement EDWARD R. YENDLEY. 

